This is a presentation given at the Florida Library Association's conference in Orlando on May 8, 2014.

1. Successful STEM
Programs for Children
Presented by
Karyn Dombrosky (Palm Beach County Library System)
Cicely Douglas (Palm Beach County Library System)
Katherine Kastanis (Dunedin Public Library)

2. What is STEM?
Science
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Anatomy
• Archaeology
Technology
• Batteries
• Circuits
• Electromagnets
Engineering
• Building
• Robotics
• Density
Math
• Probability
• Geometry
• Measurement
• Money

3. You already do science programs!
STEMKnitting
(Geometry)
Shark Week
(Marine
Biology)
Dinosaurs
(Archaeology/
Paleontology)
Animals
(Biology)
Bowling
(Geometry/
Physics)
Bubbles
(Chemistry)
Cooking/
Nutrition
(Chemistry)
Superheroes
(Physics)
Steampunk
(Forensics/
Engineering)

4. Why focus on STEM?
Practice
Comprehension
CommunicationEngage
Confidence

5. Fastest growing occupations from 2008-2018.
U.S. Department of Labor
 Biomedical engineers
 Network systems and data communications analysts
 Home health aides
 Personal and home care aides
 Financial examiners
 Medical scientists
 Physical assistants
 Skin care specialists
 Biochemists and biophysicists
 Athletic trainers

6. Practical Applications

7. Practical Applications

8. Implementation
Ask
Questions
Facilitate
discussion
Engage
participants
Actively
Participate
Support and
direct
Regulate levels
of info
Invite
Questions
Check
procedural
thinking
Increase
understanding

9. Successful Science
Programs for
Children Ages 5 - 8
KarynDombrosky
Palm Beach County Library System

10. Planning Programs
 Once per week- 1 Theme per Week
 45 - 60 minutes long
 Gather additional staff/ Teen Volunteers if needed
 Register to capacity (depending on supplies/ space)
 Waiting List for multiple week programs- call if attendance wanes
 Standby for 1 time only programs
 Plan and practice experiments
 Gather Materials
 Write Plan
 Arrange space

11. 1. Chemistry
2. Archaeology/ Paleontology
3. Physics
4. Horticulture
5. Anatomy
6. Ecology/Earth Science
7. Biology
8. Geology
8 Weeks, 8 Branches of Science

12. Implementing Programs
 Have all children sit down on the floor for instructions.
 Teach and implement only one experiment at a time.
 Teach topic using your most comfortable method:
use props; read book; go over charts; show short film or stream video
 Use every resource you can find: books; movies; websites; people; objects
 Utilize teen volunteers to help the kids with the experiments.
 Don’t be afraid to look silly. Plan your best, and you’ll be your best.

13. Examples of Experiments (5-8 year olds)
 A. Carbon dioxide gas (soda)
 B. Chemical reactions (baking soda/ vinegar)
 C. Dancing raisins (club soda/ raisins)
 D. Geyser (wint-o-green lifesavers/ cola)
 E. Diffusion (perfume/ diffusion circles)
 F. Polymers (liquid glue/ liquid starch)
 G. Inertia (quarter on elbow/ bag/
row of checkers)

14. Chemistry Experiment
Polymers: Long chains of tiny molecules
Some examples of polymers include plastic and silly putty.
 Polymer experiment #1 (slime):
1. Give each child a small cup.
2. Have each child pour a little bit of (2 parts) cornstarch into the cup.
3. Have each child slowly add water (1 part), mixing as they go.
4. The children can keep mixing, noticing that the slime will keep going from liquid to solid.

15. Chemistry Experiment
Polymer experiment #2 (slime):
1. Give each child a small cup.
2. Have each child pour equal parts liquid school glue and liquid starch into the cup.
3. Have the children mix until the liquids become a solid, blue glop.
4. Have the children transfer their glop into a plastic sandwich bag to take home.

16. Physics Experiment
Inertia:
An object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion unless a force
changes this.
 Inertia experiment #1:
1. Give each child a quarter or a checker.
2. Have each child place the quarter on his/her elbow with wrist facing up.
3. Each child should try to catch the quarter in their hand. The quarter stays in the air until
gravity pushes it down, so the child has time to catch it.

17. Physics Experiment
Inertia experiment #2:
1. Give each child an open plastic bag filled with “stuff”.
2. Have each child swing the bag upside down again and again. Nothing will fall out of the bag
as long as the child doesn’t stop swinging.

18. Troubleshooting
 Experiments that don’t work
 Unfamiliar with the topic
 Uncomfortable teaching science
 Out of control kids

19. Successful Science
Programs for
Children Ages 8-11
Cicely Douglas
Palm Beach County Library System

20. Ages 8-11
 Challenge them
 Start with a brief introduction
 Have several tables set up as different activity stations
 Create worksheets for each station

21. Examples of Experiments (8-12 year olds)
 A. Archaeology (garbology)
 B. Biology (gelatin cell)
 C. Physics (paper airplanes)
 D. Math (Probability)
 E. Marine Biology (density/salinity)
 F. Earth Science (earthquakes)
 G. Measurement (weight, length, volume)

22. Garbology
 Each bag is labeled and represents a specific site.
 Each group is to look at the pictures in the bag and try to determine information
about the site.
 The bags may represent an individual or a place.
 Give each group approx. five minutes to discuss and determine information
about the site.
 After everyone has had the opportunity to discuss the site, prompt them with
questions about the contents.
 Don’t let them get discouraged by their answer being different from yours or
from each others. Archaeologists deal with this all the time.

23. Programming for Multiple
Ages 11+
Katherine Kastanis
Dunedin Public Library

24. Speed Stacks
 Easy to learn.
 Improve hand-eye coordination.
 Improve concentration.

25. Have fun & make it your own.
Add a relay or a pyramid building race.
Speed Stacks

26. 3D Puzzle Club
• Have plenty of space
• Offer a variety of difficult choices

27. Recognize completed works & workers!
3D Puzzle Club

28. Wednesday Workout
 Teens love gaming!
 State of the Art equipment is great but not necessary!

29. Wednesday Workout
Offer an assortment of games
 Highlight national organization
opportunities!
Wednesday Workout

30. Grow Your Mind
 Make concepts simple to understand
 Encourage exploration and discovery

31. Pendulum Science
Kids have fun while learning about
science:
• Vocabulary
• Terms
• Concepts
• Experiment Procedures

32. Have fun!
Gravity
Law of Inertia

33. Science Experiment Craft
Make a lasting impression!

34. Cheiloscopy
aka Lip Print C.S.I.

35. Cheiloscopy

36. littleBits are fun for all ages!

37. Thank you
 Cicely Douglas
 Palm Beach County Library System
 DouglasC@pbclibrary.org
 KarynDombrosky
 Palm Beach County Library System
 DombroskyK@pbclibrary.org
 Katherine Kastanis
 Dunedin Public Library
 KKastanis@dunedinfl.net